inoculate

[ ih-nok-yuh-leyt ]
/ ɪˈnɒk yəˌleɪt /

verb (used with object), in·oc·u·lat·ed, in·oc·u·lat·ing.

to implant (a disease agent or antigen) in a person, animal, or plant to produce a disease for study or to stimulate disease resistance.
to affect or treat (a person, animal, or plant) in this manner.
to introduce (microorganisms) into surroundings suited to their growth, as a culture medium.
to imbue (a person), as with ideas.
Metallurgy. to treat (molten metal) chemically to strengthen the microstructure.

verb (used without object), in·oc·u·lat·ed, in·oc·u·lat·ing.

to perform inoculation.

Origin of inoculate

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin inoculātus past participle of inoculāre to graft by budding, implant, equivalent to in- in-2 + -oculā- (stem of -oculāre to graft, derivative of oculus eye, bud) + -tus past participle suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM inoculate

Example sentences from the Web for inoculated

British Dictionary definitions for inoculated

inoculate
/ (ɪˈnɒkjʊˌleɪt) /

verb

to introduce (the causative agent of a disease) into the body of (a person or animal), in order to induce immunity
(tr) to introduce (microorganisms, esp bacteria) into (a culture medium)
(tr) to cause to be influenced or imbued, as with ideas or opinions

Derived forms of inoculate

inoculation, noun inoculative, adjective inoculator, noun

Word Origin for inoculate

C15: from Latin inoculāre to implant, from in- ² + oculus eye, bud

Medical definitions for inoculated

inoculate
[ ĭ-nŏkyə-lāt′ ]

v.

To introduce a serum, a vaccine, or an antigenic substance into the body of a person or an animal, especially as a means to produce or boost immunity to a specific disease.
To implant microorganisms or infectious material into or on a culture medium.
To communicate a disease to a living organism by transferring its causative agent into the organism.

Other words from inoculate

in•ocu•la′tive adj.